Message from the Dean...
Nursing: A Recession-Proof Job
"Have you looked at nursing lately?"
That's the question nursing educators and administrators throughout
the world have been asking over the years of a wide-range of audiences. As
the nursing shortage increasingly impacts nursing education and practice,
we've tried to encourage those thinking about changing careers or making
their first career choice to consider nursing. We promoted the career
satisfaction of nursing, its global opportunities, the high paying and
flexible jobs, and the emotionally and intellectually rewarding work - just
to name a few.
Today, others are joining in. The new question is
"Have you looked at nursing recently? " And now it's the economists,
financial pundits, career advisors, statisticians, book authors, media, and
even parents and families of prospective nurses who are posing the question.
Why? Because it's in the news: "Nursing is a recession-proof job."
The media - NBC News, The Washington Post, The Wall Street
Journal and The Boston Sunday Herald, MSN.com, National Public
Radio, Forbes.com, and advice columnists and bloggers everywhere - have
suddenly discovered our profession. We're listed in the top 100 most
recession proof jobs. Economists are writing books about the opportunities
nursing offers not just today, but for tomorrow and the long-term.
None of this is new "news" to any of us here at the School of Nursing or the
Johns Hopkins hospitals, or to nurses anywhere in the world. Not only have
we been in on this secret for a very long time, but we have the "inside
story:" Nursing also is an incredibly exciting and wonderfully intriguing
recession-proof career and one of the most trusted professions in our nation
and around the globe.
With this new wave of publicity helping to
carry our message, it's time for all of us in the nursing profession - not
just the educators and administrators - to let others in on that secret. We
need to tell the stories of our profession and make sure that for those
making career choices amidst today's economic crises, nursing should be at
the top of their lists.
Let's tell them that nursing is a golden
opportunity for those making a first-career choice - and seeking an
education that will ensure an equitable return on investment. For those
considering a career change - and exploring how their previous education,
experience and current skills could shape a new career - explain that
nursing is more than just a way to ride out an economic slump, it's the path
to their next success.
Urge them to consider all the options a
career in nursing has to offer. Tell them if they were interested in or have
been working in the fields of:
-- Global finance, explore global
nursing.
-- Political campaigning and grassroots activism, think about
community public health nursing.
-- Crisis management, analyze critical
care and emergency nursing.
-- Legislative issue management, look at
nursing and health care policy development.
-- Financial planning and
analysis, discover the best practices and economies of nursing and health
care administration.
-- Journalism, investigate forensic nursing or
examine nursing research.
-- Product management and quality control,
scrutinize patient safety and quality of care.
-- Making a difference
in people's lives and in the world, choose nursing.
Let's tell
them: Choose nursing. The possibilities are limitless; the rewards are
exceptional.
Martha N. Hill, PhD, RN, FAAN
Dean
Professor of Nursing,
Medicine and Public Health
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